Scientists using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have analyzed the atmosphere of TRAPPIST-1 e, an Earth-sized exoplanet in the habitable zone of its star. Observations conducted during four transits revealed that the planet likely does not retain a primary atmosphere composed of lightweight gases such as hydrogen, and helium. The host star, TRAPPIST-1, is highly active, with frequent stellar flares that may have stripped away such an atmosphere due to intense radiation.
These initial findings come from the JWST Telescope Scientist Team’s DREAMS collaboration, which uses the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) to study exoplanet atmospheres. According to Néstor Espinoza of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, a principal investigator on the research team, Webb’s infrared instruments are providing unprecedented detail. Two scientific papers detailing the results have been published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
While the absence of a thick hydrogen-helium envelope suggests a different atmospheric evolution, researchers note that the planet could still support liquid water under alternative atmospheric scenarios. Yet, no definitive signs of an atmosphere have been detected yet, and further observations are needed to clarify the planet’s potential for habitability.
